Wales has two weeks to get it right
Wales has two weeks to get it right
28/08/2007 8:22:44 AM
PA Sport
Wales has two weeks to save its World Cup campaign.
That is the view of full-back Kevin Morgan, who believes Wales must improve before its opening clash with Canada on September 9 to stand any chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
Wales signed off its World Cup preparations yesterday with a 34-7 defeat to France as the tournament host dished out a brutal lesson in finishing.
Wales was outscored by four tries to one opportunistic effort from James Hook, and despite creating chances it struggled for accuracy in the face of a powerful French defence.
Coach Gareth Jenkins is confident Wales will be ready in time - "I've no doubt", he said - and Morgan knows it is vital they are.
"We've got two weeks to go before our first game against Canada and we have got to improve before then," said the Newport Gwent Dragons full-back.
"The boys will be working hard because we all want to do well at the World Cup, so we'll be giving our all in training.
"We know Canada are going to be a tough proposition first game up and we go into that game treating it as if it was any game against one of the top nations.
"It will be tough but we have improved with every game and we will need to improve again if we want to get out of the group.
"We all have to perform for us to do well in this competition, and if we all improve in training in the next two weeks then we will start playing some good rugby.
"The French defence was a shock to the system and was very organised. When they had opportunities they took them and scored whereas we didn't. That's the measure of a good side.
"France are a top side - but it's a good measuring stick for us. We've got to make sure we learn from it.
"We'll definitely be ready, we've got to be ready."
In reality, Canada should not cause even a misfiring Welsh team too many troubles in Nantes a week on Sunday.
It will certainly be a bruising encounter, however, as Canada is a physical outfit and boasts a handful of players with top European experience.
But Wales have put 60 points on it in their last two encounters, including a 61-26 win in Cardiff last November.
It was not all bad against the French. Wales did at least create openings and its lineout, such a concern in recent months, enjoyed a relatively profitable afternoon.
Despite the scoreline, it was arguably Wales' best performance of the pre-World Cup campaign, which opened with a record defeat to England and included a morale-boosting win over Argentina.
Lock Alun-Wyn Jones said: "Since the England game our performances have only got better. We have been able to test every area of our game. The coaches are happy where we are.
"We had one win, one good performance and one dire loss. We made constant ascendancy in our game. "The performance was there yesterday but not the score. Of course, that is what wins a game, but we have plenty of time now to work on the detail."
News on the injury front is also positive.
Gareth Thomas will bear the scars of defeat for some time to come after having 20 stitches in three facial cuts but is not a long-term concern.
Dwayne Peel is expected to be fit to face Canada after injuring his calf. Kevin Morgan hurt his knee and both Chris Horsman and Duncan Jones have shoulder problems but none were initially thought to be too serious.
And first five-eighths Stephen Jones is due to return to training this week after recovering from a groin injury which ruled him out of Wales' August campaign.
Whether Jones is fit to face Canada will depend how the injury stands up to training this week.
